1985 Volkswagen Vanagon problems
The Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) was the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter and was marketed under various nameplates worldwide – including the Transporter or Caravelle in Europe, T25 in the UK, Microbus and Kombi in South Africa/Brazil/Australia, Kampeerauto in Netherlands, Combi in France and Vanagon in North and South America.
It was larger, heavier, and more angular in its styling than its predecessor, the T2, but shared the same rear-engine, cab-over design. It was produced in a rear wheel drive version as well as a 4WD version marketed as "Syncro."
The T3 was manufactured in Hannover, Germany from 1979 until 1991. Production of the Syncro (mostly for official use, like postal service or German army) continued until 1992 at Puch in Graz, Austria, where all 4WDs were built. A limited number of 2WD models were also produced at the Graz factory after German production had come to an end. South African production of the T3 continued, for that market only, until 2002.
The T3 was the final generation of rear-engined Volkswagens.
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Common 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon problems
The Volkswagen Vanagon, particularly the 1985 model, has several common problems that are often reported by owners. These issues can be categorized into engine, transmission, cooling system, and electrical problems.
- Transmission Problems: The Vanagon's automatic transmission is known to have issues with the torque converter and the cooling system. The torque converter can fail, causing the transmission to slip or fail altogether. The cooling system for the transmission, known as the AT/coolant heat exchanger, can also fail, leading to a breach and mixing of coolant and automatic transmission fluid. GoWesty recommends replacing this component every 10 years to avoid such failures.
- Cooling System Problems: In addition to head gasket leaks, the Vanagon's cooling system can have issues with plugged radiators, leading to overheating. Regular maintenance and cleaning of the radiator can help prevent these issues.
- Electrical Problems: The Vanagon's electrical system can have issues with bad grounds, blown fuses, missing fuses, wrong fuses, and split wiring. These problems can cause weird issues with the vehicle's electrical systems, including the lights, radio, and other accessories. Regular maintenance and inspection of the electrical system can help prevent these issues.
In summary, the Volkswagen Vanagon, particularly the 1985 model, has several common problems that are often reported by owners. These issues include engine problems like head gasket leaks, transmission problems like torque converter failure and cooling system issues, and electrical problems. Regular maintenance and inspection can help prevent many of these issues, but some, like head gasket leaks, can be expensive to repair.
Are Volkswagen Vanagons reliable?
Volkswagen Vanagon Reliability Problems
Vanagon owners have made 1 complaint over 1 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 7th in overall reliability out of 25 VW models , with plenty of cooling system concerns.
What is the Vanagon syndrome?
The theory of the vanagon syndrome is the wiper gets a vibratory resonance. This bouncing of the wiper on the resistance track causes the voltage to go all over the place making the ECU loose track of the actual fuel air ratio it needs along with the incorrect ignition map. So the car is bucking and acting weird.
What year is the best Vanagon?
Generally speaking, the 1986-1991 Vanagons are the most highly evolved of all. The 83.5-85 1.9 wasserboxers are really good vans too though and they are considerably cheaper than the later models. The 80-83 air-cooled models are the only ones I would really steer clear of.
What engine is in a 1985 Vanagon?
1.9 L (1913 cc) (83 bhp) (Serial # DH) water-cooled (or "Wasserboxer") engine used for the 1983 to 1985 models, which used a fuel injection system known as "Digijet" (Digital Jet-tronic)
Are Volkswagen Vanagons reliable?
Volkswagen Vanagon Reliability Problems
Vanagon owners have made 1 complaint over 1 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 7th in overall reliability out of 25 VW models , with plenty of cooling system concerns.
What year is the best Vanagon?
Generally speaking, the 1986-1991 Vanagons are the most highly evolved of all. The 83.5-85 1.9 wasserboxers are really good vans too though and they are considerably cheaper than the later models. The 80-83 air-cooled models are the only ones I would really steer clear of.
What engine is in a 1985 Vanagon?
1.9 L (1913 cc) (83 bhp) (Serial # DH) water-cooled (or "Wasserboxer") engine used for the 1983 to 1985 models, which used a fuel injection system known as "Digijet" (Digital Jet-tronic)
What is Vanagon syndrome?
Vanagon Syndrome is just another name for bucking, rich running, etc. All Vanagons can have those symptoms. If you are experiencing this symptoms with whatever year fuel injected Vanagon, follow my advice and it will help you find the source of the problem.
1985 Volkswagen Vanagon car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volkswagen Vanagon problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1985 Volkswagen Vanagon complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-12-02
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Fire: 1
- VIN: WV2ZB0255FH
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE FROM UNDER DASH NEXT TO FUSE BOX. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE ELECTRICAL FIRE MUST HAVE UNKNOWN CAUSE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED NORMAL FOR AGING VEHICLES. *YH
1985 Volkswagen Vanagon recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon.
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
- Summary: THE LATCH OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR MAY BECOME DAMAGED IF EXCESSIVE FORCE IS USED TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DAMAGED DOOR LOCK MECHANISM WILL NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN IF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER BUMPY ROADS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A PASSENGER COULD FALL OUT CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
- Remedy: MODIFY THE SLIDING DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY SO DOOR WILL PROPERLY ENGAGE.
Other years of Volkswagen Vanagon
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